The why and how of selling your house

American homeowners sell their homes and move, on average, every five to seven years.

Johanna Crosby

When it’s time to go, look at your home like a buyer

American homeowners sell their homes and move, on average, every five to seven years.

A job change, the desire to upgrade or relocate to a different area or neighborhood are just some of the reasons people decide to sell. But lifestyle changes top the list.

“It’s not so much downsizing but right-sizing,” observed Deborah Del Negro, a senior real estate specialist with Today Real Estate in Sandwich.

“People are upsizing or downsizing because their house doesn’t fit the family’s needs anymore,” said Deborah Schilling, a broker associate at Re/Max Classic Real Estate in Marstons Mills. “A lot of folks who have been in a house for a number of years are older and their living situation is changing. They are moving to a condo or maybe desire one-floor living.”

There are also “move-up people” who want to move to a bigger home in a better neighborhood, Schilling said. Others want a different lifestyle like living near the beach or in a planned community.

The down economy is driving some homeowners to sell. They can no longer keep up with the payments, Del Negro noted. But other homeowners who aren’t in financial straits may want to simplify their finances with a less expensive house, added Schilling.

Young homeowners tend to upsize, said Del Negro. Their career is on the upswing, their family is growing and they need another bedroom.

A large number of those people end up selling as they get older “because they lose their social circle of friends and want to be back near family,” she said.

Another common scenario occurs when a spouse dies and the surviving spouse decides to sell the family home and move into a condo. Some older folks have trouble living alone and think it’s time to look at senior living options.

Changes in the neighborhood may motivate some homeowners to sell, Schilling said. Other people have been living in a house that is 30 to 40 years old and needs a lot of expensive repairs. They decide it’s better to sell than fix it up.

Once you have made the decision to sell, the next step is getting your house ready to put on the market. Both realtors offer the following tips:

“Condition is everything,” Schilling said. “People are not willing to buy a project home unless they can get it well below market price.”

The realtor suggests walking around the house and examining the exterior for any cosmetic issues. Curb appeal is critical to attract potential buyers. Schilling suggests freshening up the front door with a coat of paint and sprucing up the landscape. A fresh coat of paint can give every room in the house a new, updated look.

“The best thing you can do for little money is paint,” she said. “Paint makes defects less obvious.”

Some home improvements are more cost-effective than others.

“It’s rare that anything you do will get a 100 percent return,” Schilling said. But updates to the two most important rooms in the house, the kitchen and bathroom, can make a house more desirable to buyers.

Ideally homeowners should start the process of selling their home six months to a year ahead, Del Negro said. Have a plan. Assemble a team including realtors and a real estate attorney. Del Negro advises interviewing at least three realtors before hiring one and having a presale home inspection. And be realistic about price.

“This is a tough seller’s market,” Del Negro said. “Your property has to be in good condition, priced right and you need the right realtor.”

Her next tip is “clean, clean, clean and when you are done cleaning, clean. Remember when you are selling a home you are appealing to a wide audience.

“Strive to keep emotion out of a home sale,” she said.

Traditionally people think spring is the best time to sell a house. But on the Cape it’s a good market year-round, Del Negro said. Schilling finds February through April the prime time to list a house.

No matter when you decide to sell your house, Schiling said, it’s important to “put your best foot forward.”